What does npm -D flag mean?

Question

I am about to install this npm package and it says npm install -D load-grunt-config. What does the -D flag do?

Sorry for duplicate question, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8783230/what-is-the-d-in-npm-d-install has answer, however the comments are much more inline, I guess because they were made by developers that knew the answer and had been through the same. — simplesthing, Apr 20 '14 at 01:18
you can find the answer here https://stackoverflow.com/a/60538593/8134164 — INDRAJITH EKANAYAKE, Mar 05 '20 at 05:36
Does this answer your question? [What is the "-d" in "npm -d install"?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8783230/what-is-the-d-in-npm-d-install) — INDRAJITH EKANAYAKE, Mar 05 '20 at 05:37

score 296 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 27 '20 at 05:18

296

The -D flag is the shortcut for: --save-dev. Source: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install

-D, --save-dev: Package will appear in your devDependencies.

edited Oct 27 '20 at 05:18

Jaime Gómez

answered Apr 20 '14 at 01:22

sagunms

54

So, what does it do? – Kevin Feb 02 '16 at 14:22
@kevin: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19223051/grunt-js-what-does-save-dev-mean-in-npm-install-grunt-save-dev – spb Mar 18 '16 at 18:48
3

For me, the -D flag will not update package.json, forcing me to use --save-dev instead. Crazy as usual :( – Agustin Garzon Oct 27 '17 at 14:44
1

@Kevin That's another topic isn't it? – Hiro Nov 18 '19 at 04:44
4

@Hiro, OP wrote "what does the -D flag do?" – Ali Pardhan Aug 25 '20 at 01:26

score 37 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 22 '19 at 15:29

37

As described in the NPM Install Docs:

-D, --save-dev: Package will appear in your devDependencies.

Which means that the package will not be installed if you do npm install --production.

A detailed explanation of the different types of dependencies: SO-Answer

edited Aug 22 '19 at 15:29

Arian Acosta

answered Jan 06 '19 at 19:05

Joniras

1

Adding to this, the equivalent using yarn is `yarn add [--dev/-D]` – Arian Acosta Aug 22 '19 at 15:30

2 Answers2